Travel has been something that I’ve enjoyed my whole life. From family vacations and foreign exchanges in my early years, to adventures with friends and press trips nowadays as a blogger, I have been exploring the world one little bit at a time. Just like my friend who recently went to Wisconsin on a holiday, he said to me that he found some useful tips here if you’re interested in learning more about the area before you decide to visit it. I’ve been fortunate to cross many bucket list destinations off of my list, but there’s still so much more of the world to experience!
Growing up, I was fortunate to visit many incredible places on family vacations with my parents. We enjoyed these times abroad together and my parents always taught me to appreciate travel, as well as how to travel smart. My parents showed me how to find toiletry bags worth buying, how to properly pack a carry-on and how to discretely wear a fanny pack. Okay, it was 90’s my fanny pack was not discrete.
Looking after your health while on holiday is also very importance. No one likes to think about the possibility of being sick while on vacation but it can happen, even to the best of us. For this reason, it is always a good idea to make sure you’ve done some research into the recommended travel vaccinations you need well in advance of your trip.
One of the earliest things I learned and possibly the most crucial tip for the travel lover is to use a travel Card that earns points, which can be used towards travel. The American Express Gold Rewards Card is the most flexible travel Card, giving you the freedom to suit your travel needs, no matter how those needs may evolve in life. It’s an amazing Card where you earn points with every purchase and the points can be used to book your travels & towards other expenses. Many people find that travel cards come with hidden traps that actually cause them to be quite expensive.
With that in mind, over the years, I’ve begun to form a list of travel tips of my own and I thought it would be great to share some of those with you here and hopefully inspire you to reach your travel potential! Take a read through my tips below and let me know if you already do any of these things too.
Tip #1: Research the cultural attractions in and around the destination you plan to visit.
Last year, Justine and I went down to Siesta Key, Florida. It’s one of our favorite spots for a beach vacation and we were pleasantly surprised to discover that the Salvador Dali Museum is also nearby in St. Petersburg, Florida. The museum has an amazing collection of art, perfect for when you need a day-off from the beach. With the American Express Gold Rewards Card, you can use points to pay off the activities you charge to your Card, like visiting museums, leaving more room in the travel budget for your next adventure.
Tip #2: Don’t be afraid to try something new!
I’m always up for an adventure when I travel. Day trips and excursions are a great way to see more of a place, while making unforgettable memories along the way. When Justine and I were in Mexico, we went off-roading through the brush and it turned out to be the most fun day of our trip!
Tip #3: Eat and drink where the locals do.
But first, coffee. During my recent trip to LA earlier this year, I of course had to go to Alfred’s Coffee on Melrose. By paying with my American Express Gold Rewards Card, I earned points on my morning coffee and breakfast bowls. With the American Express Gold Rewards Card you earn points on all your purchases, this means you can continue earning points even while you travel. Talk about travelling smart! There’s something so satisfying about knowing that you are already earning points towards another future trip while travelling.
Tip #4: Value spontaneity!
One of my favorite trips this past year was when Justine and I decided to go down to Miami just days before actually taking the trip. It was so fun to just pick up and go! Even at the last minute, the American Express Gold Rewards Card allowed us to use our points to book the flights we wanted. All we had to do is charge the flight to our Gold Rewards Card, and then we get up to 12 months after that to be able to redeem our points against that flight booking! With no concrete plans, there were no expectations and we were able to go with the flow, relax and really enjoy ourselves.
Booking with points is easy and you don’t have to worry about last minute fares or booking at peak times. When you sign up for the American Express Gold Rewards Card, you’ll also earn 25,000 Membership Rewards Points as a welcome bonus when you spend $1,500 in the first 3 months of your Cardmembership. It’s a great perk to push you towards your next trip sooner! Plus, you get 1 Free Supplementary Gold Rewards Card to help you earn points faster.
If you have a passion for travel like I do, a travel Card is a must-have. Earning points becomes a lifestyle that will help you reach your travel potential and hopefully take you to every destination on your bucket list!